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OSP finds 7 more alleging sex abuse By Jonel Aleccia Investigators have identified as many as seven more suspected victims of a Jackson County caseworker charged with sexually abusing two developmentally disabled clients, according to Oregon State Police. Interviews with nearly 40 of Robert Forrest Jackson�s clients dating back six years unearthed new allegations, said OSP Sgt. Kurt Barthel, who planned Tuesday to forward a report to the local district attorney�s office. "The charges are going to remain basically the same: sodomy and sex abuse," said Barthel. A trial date of Sept. 27 has been set for Jackson, a former caseworker in the county developmental disability program. A grand jury indicted Jackson this month on nine counts of first-degree sodomy and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse, stemming from allegations that he molested two adult male clients. One alleged victim claimed that Jackson had touched his penis with his mouth or hands "a minimum of 50 times" and that the caseworker had anally sodomized the client and forced him to perform the act, according to a police affidavit filed by Barthel in Jackson County Circuit Court. Another client said Jackson had touched his penis at least 20 times, according to the affidavit. Another suspected victim told police Jackson promised additional county money in exchange for fondling. Similar stories emerged in subsequent interviews, Barthel said Tuesday. The alleged victims are all developmentally disabled adult men who reported incidences of sexual contact. "It varies from victim to victim. It could vary from as few as one time to innumerable times," he said. The investigation extended to 1994, which is within the six-year statute of limitations for such crimes. There were other prospective victims outside of the statute�s provisions, Barthel acknowledged. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. "Allegations are allegations," said public defender Andy Vandergaw, who is representing Jackson. "I can allege that you sexually molested me but that doesn�t mean that it�s true." Vandergaw said he wasn�t surprised at reports of new victims. "The police in their usual bit of pre-indictment publicity said so even before he was indicted," Vandergaw said. "They don�t like being indicted in the media, but they don�t mind doing it to someone else." District Attorney Mark Huddleston said Tuesday that he�d review the report and decide whether to proceed to the grand jury for indictments on additional charges. Meanwhile, developmentally disabled victims identified in the investigation have been reassigned to caseworkers outside the local program. The move will avoid potential conflicts of interest, said Hank Collins, county director of health and human services. He said he was saddened, but not surprised, at allegations of additional victims. "I think from the start we expected there would be more victims," he said. "Someone who does this usually has many victims. It�s a fact that people who are sex abusers are amongst us." A state expert on helping agencies recover from and prevent future incidences of sex abuse will visit the county program next month, Collins added. Gerri Newton is a Portland therapist who was called in after abuse surfaced at Fairview Training Center in Salem. She�ll work with state and county programs serving the disabled, children and seniors to review procedures. "She�s going to help us look at if there�s a way to develop a better community response system," Collins said. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA